Rassie Erasmus has made six changes and a positional switch to his starting side ahead of the clash against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
Bongi Mbonambi has been preferred at hooker for this clash at the Suncorp Stadium. Malcolm Marx, the 2017 SA Rugby Player of the Year, has dropped to the bench as a result.
The other big change is at flyhalf, with Elton Jantjies starting ahead of Handré Pollard. The latter struggled with his goal-kicking in Durban and Mendoza.
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In the backs, Erasmus has favoured a centre combination comprising Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel. André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am, who both started the recent Tests against Argentina, have been dropped from the matchday squad.
Cheslin Kolbe, who received a surprise call-up ahead of the tour to Australasia, is set to make his debut from the bench.
‘We are looking for a good response on Saturday against the Wallabies and I am sure that this side will be up to the task,’ said Erasmus.
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‘Australia, playing at home, will no doubt be highly motivated to bounce back, so we have to be ready for a huge contest.
‘We have worked hard to rectify our errors of last week and we know the set piece and breakdown battles are going to especially be important. The Wallabies are known for their abilities at the breakdown and we will have to be accurate and disciplined in those areas.’
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
